interest: Meaning and Definition of

in•ter•est

1. the feeling of a person whose attention, concern, or curiosity is particularly engaged by something: She has a great interest in the poetry of Donne.
2. something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person: His interests are philosophy and chess.
3. power of exciting such concern, involvement, etc.; quality of being interesting: political issues of great interest.
4. concern; importance: a matter of primary interest.
5. a business, cause, or the like in which a person has a share, concern, responsibility, etc.
6. a share, right, or title in the ownership of property, in a commercial or financial undertaking, or the like: He bought half an interest in the store.
7. a participation in or concern for a cause, advantage, responsibility, etc.
8. a number or group of persons, or a party, financially interested in the same business, industry, or enterprise: the banking interest.
9. the group of persons or organizations having extensive financial or business power.
10. the state of being affected by something in respect to advantage or detriment: We need an arbiter who is without interest in the outcome.
11. benefit; advantage: to have one's own interest in mind.
12. regard for one's own advantage or profit; self-interest: The partnership dissolved because of their conflicting interests.
13. influence from personal importance or capability; power of influencing the action of others.
1. a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money.
2. such a sum expressed as a percentage of money borrowed to be paid over a given period, usually one year.
15. something added or thrown in above an exact equivalent: Jones paid him back with a left hook and added a right uppercut for interest.
16. to the advantage or advancement of; in behalf of: in the interests of good government.

1. to engage or excite the attention or curiosity of: Mystery stories interested him greatly.
2. to concern (a person, nation, etc.) in something; involve: The fight for peace interests all nations.
3. to cause to take a personal concern or share; induce to participate: to interest a person in an enterprise.
4. to cause to be concerned; affect.